INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cablegate: Mgeap1: Indonesia Earthquake Humanitarian Update #5

Published: Fri 9 Oct 2009 10:35 AM
VZCZCXRO6539
OO RUEHDT RUEHPB
DE RUEHJA #1712/01 2821035
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 091035Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3557
INFO RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 7980
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1084
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 8835
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 001712
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP, CA
STATE FOR USAID
USAID FOR DCHA/OFDA CCHAN, ACONVERY, RTHAYER, AND RMT
USAID FOR ANE KROSEN
BANGKOK FOR ADWYER
NSC FOR CPRATT
USUN FOR DMERCADO
GENEVA FOR NKYLOH
PACOM POLAD/J3/J5
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV CASC ECON EAID SENV ID PHUM AEMR ASEC CASC
MARR, PREL, PINR, AMGT, EAID, AQ, LA, RP, TN, VM, WS
SUBJECT: MGEAP1: INDONESIA EARTHQUAKE HUMANITARIAN UPDATE #5
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Summary
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1. The USAID Disaster Assistance Response Team (USAID/DART)
continues to assess areas affected by the September 30 earthquake
off the coast of West Sumatra. On October 9, the USAID/DART
conducted aerial assessments of areas northeast of the epicenter of
the earthquake, as well as areas south of Padang. While relief
efforts continue, international media coverage is beginning to wane.
On October 9, the U.N. released the West Sumatra Earthquake
Humanitarian Response Plan, in coordination with the Government of
Indonesia (GoI), seeking $38 million for programs lasting 90 days.
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) continues to provide patient
treatment through a mobile medical unit and has provided helicopters
to transport emergency relief commodities and humanitarian personnel
to areas inaccessible by road. End summary.
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USAID/DART Relief Activities
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2. On October 8, the USAID/DART met with the U.S. Pacific
Command-designated Mission Commander to discuss helicopter
operations in earthquake-affected areas. The USAID/DART is working
with the humanitarian clusters in Padang to coordinate air
operations on DoD helicopters. DoD has offered helicopters to
transport both emergency relief supplies and humanitarian personnel
to earthquake-affected areas that are otherwise inaccessible.
3. On October 8, members of the USAID/DART who traveled to Agam
District observed that humanitarian needs vary widely within the
district. However, virtually every house observed by the USAID/DART
has sustained at least some damage, and many houses have collapsed
or are structurally unsound and need to be rebuilt.
4. The USAID/DART also visited the spontaneous displaced person
camp near Lake Singkarak in Padang Pariaman District on October 8.
Individuals in the camp were displaced by a landslide or ordered by
police to evacuate four villages around the lake. The International
Organization for Migration (IOM) is providing humanitarian
assistance to the approximately 2,000 individuals sheltering in the
camp; however, unmet needs persist, including the need for safe
drinking water, as some individuals living in the camp are
collecting water from the nearby lake. Sanitation facilities at a
neighboring mosque were insufficient to sustain the population's
sanitation needs.
5. On October 9, the USAID/DART conducted aerial assessments of
areas northeast of the epicenter of the earthquake as well as areas
south of Padang. South of Padang, the team observed minor secondary
road blockages resulting from small landslides along the road.
These road blockages were passable by motorbikes and should be
relatively easy for communities to clear.
6. In addition, on October 9, the USAID/DART continues to field
media requests and produce press releases. International media are
leaving Padang; the USAID/DART reports that reporters from Agence
France-Presse (AFP) and the Associated Press (AP) have departed.
The USAID/DART press officer continues to coordinate with DoD and
U.S. Embassy counterparts to provide press support to the USG
humanitarian relief effort.
7. The USAID/DART is working to facilitate the arrival of the
flight of relief commodities from the USAID/OFDA warehouse in Dubai.
The flight is tentatively scheduled to land in Padang on October 9.
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Humanitarian Response Plan
--------------------------
8. On October 9, the U.N. released the West Sumatra Earthquake
JAKARTA 00001712 002 OF 002
Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP), in coordination with the GoI.
Similar to a U.N. flash appeal, the HRP summarizes humanitarian
needs and requests assistance from the international community to
support the GoI in the humanitarian response to the earthquake. As
many as 115 international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are
providing humanitarian assistance to affected populations as of
October 9.
9. According to the HRP, the earthquake affected 1.2 million of the
total 4.76 million people in West Sumatra Province. As of October
9, the quake has killed 739 people, left 296 people missing and
presumed dead, and injured 2,219 others. In addition, the
earthquake has damaged more than 230,000 houses.
10. To address humanitarian needs created by the September 30
earthquake, the HRP requests $38 million for 90 days, or
approximately $32 per beneficiary. (Comment: The HRP does not
include the $18.6 million also requested by the International
Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in its October 7
appeal. End comment.) The HRP describes priority needs by cluster.
Included in the total request are the following sectors and
amounts:
-- Agriculture: $3,250,000
-- Coordination and Safety: $470,000
-- Early Recovery: $4,300,000
-- Education: $4,504,390
-- Food and Nutrition: $2,044,903
-- Health: $2,618,000
-- Logistics and Telecommunications: $1,997,308
-- Protection: $2,211,000
-- Shelter: $9,625,500
-- Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene: $7,010,000
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DoD Earthquake Response
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11. On October 8, staff at the DoD Humanitarian Assistance Rapid
Response Team (HARRT) treated 243 patients. The U.S.S. Denver and
the U.S.S. McCampbell arrived in Padang late in the evening on
October 8. DoD is providing five helicopters, including three with
heavy lift capacity, for use by the humanitarian community. The
heavy lift helicopters will transport emergency relief commodities
and humanitarian aid workers to areas that are difficult to access
or inaccessible by road, and the other helicopters are being used
for aerial assessments of affected areas and transport of medical
and teams. DoD commenced helicopter operations on October 9. As of
October 7, DoD had provided assistance worth more than $4 million,
including the cost of medical supplies to support the HARRT and the
cost of airlifts.
Osius#
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